HOUGHTON — Dante Basanese, a junior from Iron Mountain, was named Defensive Back of the Year in football awards announced Monday by Michigan Technological University.

For the season, Basanese was credited with 84 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, an interception, a blocked kick and 11 pass breakups. He was an honorable mention All-GLIAC selection.

The Huskies enjoyed a 7-4 season, finishing in a three-way tie for third in the GLIAC with an in- league record of 4-3 under second-year head coach Dan Mettlach.

NFL LOOKS INTO NEW ORLEANS

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Hundreds of internal emails show executives of the New Orleans Saints were far more involved than previously known in providing public relations help to Catholic Church leaders as they confronted a clergy sex abuse crisis.

The emails sharply undercut assurances the Saints provided five years ago when they asserted they had provided only “minimal” assistance to the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Survivors of clergy abuse say they’re disgusted by the team’s involvement. The Saints said in a statement Saturday that the team does not condone sex abuse.

They also criticized the media for using leaked emails to misconstrue what they called “a well-intended effort.”

BROWNS’ GARRETT REQUESTS TRADE

CLEVELAND (AP) — Star defensive end Myles Garrett has requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns with the hope of better positioning himself to play in a Super Bowl.

That’s according to a statement he sent to media outlets. The Browns finished last in the AFC North with a 3-14 record and general manager Andrew Berry said last week that he would not trade Garrett. Garrett is under contract with the Browns for two more seasons under a five-year, $125 million extension he signed in 2020.

UMP HOBERG FIRED BY MLB

NEW YORK (AP) — Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major League Baseball for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation.

MLB opened the investigation last February when it was brought to its attention by the sportsbook, and Hoberg did not umpire last season.

While MLB said the investigation did not uncover evidence Hoberg personally bet on baseball or manipulated games, MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill recommended on May 24 that Hoberg be fired. Commissioner Rob Manfred said Monday he upheld Hill’s decision. Among the highest-rated umpires at judging the strike zone, Hoberg can apply for reinstatement no earlier than 2026 spring training.